Yesterday I tuned into "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer. I don't watch CNN for information. Other than what can be decerned from live feed it is the worst information in the world except for their senior journalists that concentrate on dangerous areas of the world.
The entire program was to disenfranchise 'The Truth' from 'Priorities' of the USA Government. Although Wolf Blitzer did make Steven Hadley 'toe the line' through questions about Afghanistan which is where the media attention belongs; it was Hadley that wanted to talk about nothing but Iraq. And indeed they went there.
A very distressing event occurred yesterday.
If I may:
Allawi showered with shoes and tomatoes
NAJAF: Iraq’s former prime minister Iyad Allawi on Sunday came under a hail of rocks, tomatoes and shoes by an angry mob when his guards and police opened fire in the Imam Ali mosque. However, Allawi claimed that gunmen had tried to assassinate him in Shia Islam’s holiest shrine and his men had fired to fend the assailants off. “It appeared to be an assassination attempt,” said Allawi, on his return to Baghdad from Najaf. He said 60 or 70 men in black, armed with guns and knives, set upon his party as he prayed at the mosque. One took aim but dropped his gun, he said. “We believe this was premeditated, studied and planned; the way they were split into three groups, it was very clear that they had evil intent to kill either the whole delegation or at least me,” he added. Police said some of Allawi’s guards and police fired in the air around the sprawling mosque complex as the politician’s party ran for safety. “When Allawi entered the shrine, a few people, believed to be Sadr’s Mehdi Army militia picked up batons and threatened to attack him,” a police captain said at the scene after the incident. “His American and Iraqi guards fired in the air when everyone started throwing shoes and sandals at him.” The former premier declined to say who he thought was behind the attack but dropped broad hints that he believed Islamist militias, the target of frequent verbal attacks from Allawi, were responsible. Many militiamen dress in uniform black. reuters
During the program al Sadr's name continually came up. It was derogatory in nature REGARDLESS of the fact the spokesperson for Iraq for the day stated loud and clear that al Sadr is an asset to the nation while taking an active interest in the politics.
Cleric al Sadr is an esteemed person among the people he serves. And he does serve his flock whether the West likes it or not. Those people have a right to their point of view and those they have come to trust. We are lucky to have men like Cleric al Sadr who seek the wisdom of men like the Grand Ayatollah al Sistani for advise regarding worldly matters. Cleric al Sadr to my understanding has never been out of the country of Iraq or taken seriously in matters of the State of Iraq. That is changing.
The Bush Administration on one hand wants us to realize we need to be patient with the people of Iraq and continue to dominate the domestic life in Iraq. But. They also don't respect the voices of the Holy Men there. Why would I recognize an administration or media service that kisses the 'butt' of Bush when all they can do is to estrange the people of this country from the Clergy if you will of Islam and from understanding the people there.
Iyad Allawi is a returned exile. He was 'in charge' of the country when the attack on the Iman Ali Mosque was undertaken by the USA with intent to kill or capture Cleric al Sadr and destroy the mosque as required. What makes anyone think that Allawi is looked at by those people as someone to trust. Are the people wrong in their point of view? No. Is Allawi being an idiot regarding the role he is playing with the West? Yes. Do I think for one moment Allawi's life was in danger? No. Which tells me a whole lot about the state of arms in that community. Do I think Allawi made trouble by exploiting the moment and extrapolating it into 'a lie?' Ah, Yeah, Big Time. Did the lie matter? You tell me:
Gunmen tried to kill me in Najaf: Allawi(Reuters)5 December 2005
NAJAF — Iraq’s former prime minister Iyad Allawi said gunmen tried to assassinate him in a shrine yesterday, forcing him to cut short an election campaign visit pursued by an angry mob.
“It appeared to be an assassination attempt,” the secular Shia said — 60-70 men in black, armed with guns and knives, set upon his small party as he prayed at the Imam Ali mosque.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/December/middleeast_December120.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
Allawi target of assassination plot
AM - Monday, 5 December , 2005 08:16:00
Reporter: Edmond Roy
TONY EASTLEY: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says he escaped an assassination attempt during a visit to an important Shia shrine in the central Iraqi city of Najaf.Iraqi police say Mr Allawi's bodyguards fired into the air after a crowd began attacking the politician's convoy.Mr Allawi, a secular Shia, is standing for election in next week's parliamentary polls. Edmond Roy reports.EDMOND ROY: For the moment there is only Mr Allawi's word that he's escaped an assassination attempt.Television footage of the event shows his group fleeing the shrine in Najaf as shoes were thrown at them. Throwing shoes at a person is a major insult in Arab culture.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1523422.htm
Do I think Allawi is trying INTENTIONALLY to make trouble for the worshippers of that mosque by accusing them of 'attempted murder?' You Betcha. Perhaps the next COALITON OFFENSIVE should be to 'take' the mosque and kill those lousy bastards that tried to kill him and teach them a damn good lesson they'll never repeat.
No one ever accused the Iraqi people of being civilized, but, then what does one expect when they are faced with corruption the size of their own death on a regular basis.
Iyad Allawi tried to build a head of steam after this incident that would provide him with a face saving strategy securing his 'international' acclaim and then having an issue to bring forward to the politics of the upcoming election. Let me ask you this. What if Allawi's campagin slogan is "Clear the streets of Iraq of the type of slime that acted inside the Holy Mosque that day." What do you think he will do when elected? I personally think he would role USA tanks into that neighborhood and seek revenge for the act of 'disapproval' that day.
This incident was compounded by sympathizers like General Grange who spoke nothing about backing up the General that spoken OPENLY about issues that didn't portray a USA military position in Iraq that was complimentary. David Grange in his guest shot on CNN Late Edition put out a bunch of 'Mind Speak' to ensure he got his infomercial for Carlyle out.
Do I have respect for any of these people that speak with forked tongue including Iyad Allawi?
Ah, NO !!
We don't belong in Iraq.
We never did belong in Iraq.
The USA is providing political 'clout' for this administration at the expense of domestic peace in Iraq causing the deaths of citizens everyday.
The longer we put up with this level of propaganda in support of this administration the longer the war will continue and the longer exiles like Allawi and Chalibi will have power over the people who are trying to secure their way of life whether it is politically correct or not !
